Where is SAUNATOUR?

SAUNATOUR is just below the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland in town called Kuusamo. Most tourism services are located around Ruka Holiday Resort area, 30 minutes from Kuusamo town center. Ruka Village (Rukankylä), the heart of the Holiday Resort has a variety of services: shops, restaurants, bars and direct access to ski slopes and cross-country ski tracks.

Ruka-Kuusamo area is the land surrounded by National Parks: Oulanka, Riisitunturi, Syöte, Pyhä, Paanajärvi (the latter in Russia).

Famous hiking trail: Karhunkierros (Bear’s Trail) is located in Oulanka National Park.Land of Thousands of Lakes: lots of fresh water fish for delicious meals and fishing acitivities.

Can I see Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun?

The climate in Kuusamo region is more continental than in most other parts of Finland. The average temperature of the year is around 0°C and the growing season is 135 days long. The ground is covered with snow around 200 days from the end of October till the middle of May. The downhill slopes are open during this period as well.

Month

Northern Lights

Snow dept/ cm

Av. temperature (°C)

Hours of daylight

January

appear

61

-14

5

February

appear

70

-12

9

March

-

75

-8

13

April

-

40

-2

17

May

-

2

5

21

June

-

-

15

24

July

-

-

20

19

August

-

-

13

16

September

appear

1

6

13

October

appear

5

0

9

November

appear

27

-6

5

December

appear

42

-11

3

What is Wellbeing in Wilderness?

“Everything you do in nature is good for you!” Thus everyone who travels to Ruka-Kuusamo, will enjoy a wellness holiday: for some it can be an Arctic Speed holiday with snowmobiling and ice driving experience, for another a holiday with Saunayoga, wild herb spa treatments and Wild Food Cooking Course, for a third river rafting and canoeing in Oulanka National Park - or anything in between!

Part of Wellbeing in Wilderness is our unique speciality in Ruka-Kuusamo area is SAUNATOUR - Authentic Finnish Sauna Experiences and WILD FOOD specialities (see below for detailed information).

Is Sauna Good for You?

Sauna has great health benefits!Sauna is a relaxing and rejuvenating experience for the body and mind. It cleanses skin pores, alleviates aches and pains and helps you sleep more soundly. There is no set time to staying in sauna: the only rule is that stay as long as it feels good. Between the heats you can go cool off outside; go swimming or rolling in the snow. You can always return back to the sauna. And you can repeat this cycle as many time as you want!

Do I Have to Be Naked in the Sauna?

NO! Finnish Sauna should never be a place where you feel uncomfortable. That's why no one is naked on Saunatour: you can where a swimming suit or towel in the saunas.

When Finns go to sauna, they are naked. But that is because Finns go to sauna as a family: small kids with parents or grandparents; only women together or only men together. But we rarely go as a mixed group and even then most prefer to use a towel or swimming suit.

What is SAUNATOUR?

SAUNATOUR was created by local companies in Kuusamo, each with its unique sauna and sauna story. The Saunas have received the national "Authentic Finnish Sauna Experience" quality certificate. The certificate is granted when the sauna services have passed the meticulous criteria listed in the quality manual. The certificate ensures that the quality levels of the sauna services are world-class.

You can choose to experience just one sauna or make a SAUNATOUR from one sauna to the next!

SAUNATOUR programmes are always guided!

Your Sauna Guide welcomes you to the sauna and tells you about Finnish sauna culture and why it is so important to Finns. Sauna Guide also shows what to do in the sauna. And don’t worry; no one is naked; you can wear your bathing suit or towel in the sauna! There are separate saunas for men and women if necessary. Sauna is suitable for everyone from small children to grandparents.

SAUNATOUR programmes are tailored according to the guests’ wishes, timetable and budget.